Huntsman CORP quarterly report, Q2 FY2011

Huntsman Corporation — Form 10-Q Summary

Period: Quarter and six months ended June 30, 2012; filed August 1, 2012. The request metadata says 2011 Q2, but the filing itself reports 2012 Q2. Huntsman International LLC is the wholly owned principal operating subsidiary; amounts below are primarily Huntsman Corporation consolidated, in millions of U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise.

Business context and financial performance

Huntsman is a global chemicals manufacturer operating in Polyurethanes, Performance Products, Advanced Materials, Textile Effects and Pigments.

MetricQ2 2012Q2 2011Six months 2012Six months 2011
Revenue$2,914$2,934$5,827$5,613
Gross profit$527$501$1,077$961
Gross margin18.1%17.1%18.5%17.1%
Operating income$250$220$535$382
Operating margin8.6%7.5%9.2%6.8%
Net income attributable to Huntsman Corporation$124$114$287$176
Diluted earnings per share$0.52$0.47$1.19$0.72
EBITDA (company-reported measure)$352$323$742$562
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)$365$321$762$625

Cash flow, debt and liquidity

  • Six-month operating cash flow was $348, versus $1 in 2011. Capital expenditures were $163, making operating cash flow less capital expenditures $185, compared with negative $123 in 2011.
  • Investing cash outflow was $185 and financing cash outflow was $264. Cash and cash equivalents declined $102 to $452 at June 30; restricted cash was $9.
  • Debt excluding affiliate debt was $3,744, down from $3,942 at year-end 2011; $143 was current and $3,601 long-term. Huntsman Corporation’s reported total debt including affiliate debt was $3,748.
  • Working capital was $2,261, up $141 from year-end; current assets were $4,109 and current liabilities $1,848. Management reported $1,098 of combined cash and unused borrowing capacity: $461 cash and restricted cash, $383 available under the revolver and $254 under receivables programs.
  • The $400 revolving facility had no borrowings outstanding and approximately $17 of letters of credit and guarantees outstanding. Management said it believed the company was in compliance with material debt covenants.

Material changes and segment trends

  • For Q2, revenue declined 1%, while operating income rose 14% and Huntsman-attributable net income increased 9%. Higher gross margins, lower interest expense and reduced restructuring costs supported earnings despite lower revenue.
  • For the first half, revenue increased 4%, operating income 40%, and net income attributable to Huntsman Corporation 63%. Increased gross profit and lower operating expenses and interest expense contributed; income tax expense also increased substantially, to $125 from $56.
  • Polyurethanes was a principal growth driver: Q2 revenue rose 12% and segment EBITDA rose 20% to $170; first-half revenue rose 14% and EBITDA rose 33% to $341, reflecting stronger MDI demand, volumes and margins.
  • Pigments’ first-half EBITDA rose to $277 from $196, despite lower volumes; management cited higher prices and margins. Q2 EBITDA was $131 versus $112.
  • Performance Products weakened: Q2 EBITDA fell 24% to $86 and first-half EBITDA fell 23% to $175, reflecting lower margins and volumes, an ethylene oxide facility outage and comparison with a prior-year joint-venture consolidation gain.
  • Advanced Materials’ EBITDA declined 21% in both the quarter and first half. Textile Effects remained loss-making, with first-half EBITDA of negative $15. Currency translation reduced reported selling prices in several businesses.
  • Other comprehensive income was sharply affected by currency translation: Q2 foreign currency translation adjustments were negative $142, leaving comprehensive income attributable to Huntsman Corporation at only $3 despite $124 net income.

Outlook, risks and unusual items

  • Management expected continued pressure in Pigments from softer demand, competition and higher raw-material costs; it also cited near-term margin pressure in Polyurethanes from higher input costs, weak Chinese wind-energy demand for Advanced Materials, and weak near-term consumer confidence for Textile Effects.
  • Management expected restructuring benefits above the current run rate to exceed $150 annually when programs were completed by the end of 2013; broader cost-reduction programs were expected to deliver approximately $190 in savings through Q3 2013. A separate Polyurethanes program was expected to reduce annualized fixed costs by approximately $75 by Q3 2013, with about $35 of restructuring expense expected in Q3 2012.
  • Expected 2012 capital expenditures were approximately $425. The company expected a long-term effective tax rate of approximately 30%–35% and approximately $70 of additional pension and postretirement contributions during the remainder of 2012.
  • Debt amendments extended the revolving facility commitment to 2017, increased its capacity from $300 to $400 and extended $346 of term loans to 2017. In March 2012 the company redeemed €64 (approximately $86) of 7.50% subordinated notes due 2015.
  • Material contingencies include a customer product-delivery claim with potential claims up to €153 (approximately $191); Huntsman estimated a possible loss range of €0–€153, stated it believed insurance covered liability above $10, and recorded no accrual. It also disclosed asbestos matters, environmental remediation, pending titanium-dioxide antitrust litigation, and an indemnification demand from two banks related to litigation by former shareholders; loss estimates were unavailable for some matters.
  • Environmental liabilities accrued were $34 at June 30, including $30 for remediation at a former Australian facility. The filing warns that environmental regulation, remediation costs, foreign-exchange movements, working-capital needs and debt covenant or receivables-program events could affect liquidity. Management said cash needs were expected to be met, but foreign cash may face legal or tax restrictions.
  • On July 3, 2012, after quarter-end, Huntsman acquired the remaining 55% interest in a Russian polyurethane systems business for approximately €13 ($16). The filing also states the SEC and DOJ notified Huntsman in May 2012 that they would not recommend enforcement action in the India investigation.

Investor verification priorities

  1. Confirm the reporting period: the filing is for Q2 2012, notwithstanding the request metadata’s 2011 Q2 label.
  2. Assess whether EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA gains are sustainable, particularly the contributions from Polyurethanes and Pigments and the weakness in Performance Products and Textile Effects.
  3. Review cash conversion and working-capital growth, capital-spending plans, pension contributions, and the availability and restrictions on foreign cash.
  4. Check debt maturities, refinancing needs, covenant compliance, and continued access to the revolver and receivables programs.
  5. Track the product-delivery claim, antitrust and indemnification proceedings, environmental remediation exposures, and projected restructuring costs and savings.